Abshot Pond Desilting

Case Study

In 2012, Aquascience were contracted by the Environment Agency and Hampshire County Council to undertake large scale fish removal and desilting at Abshot Pond near Portsmouth. The project aim was to eradicate ‘Sunbleak’ or ‘Motherless Minnows’, a highly invasive and alien species fish species, with a broader goal of increasing fishing potential for Portsmouth and District Angling Society (PDAS) via dredging and desilting.

Prior to the desilt, the invasive species removal was undertaken by the Environment Agency in conjunction with Aquascience. The eradication of the invasive fish species was successful.

Without the ability to remove silt and have it taken away from site, Aquascience’s agreed scheme was to dredge the silt from the majority of the pond and store it behind a silt curtain, creating new berms. Firstly, the silt curtain was created by straining geotextile across hand driven and anchored back posts. Then an excavator was used to mechanically dredge the silt and place it behind the curtain. The dredged silt was then left to dry and later planted with marginal plants.

Aquascience created two separate silt curtains in the margins at either end of the pond, where they would not interfere with existing fishing spots. A proven, simple and cost-effective way for PDAS to increase their fishing potential, with greater depths and capacity and for one of the South Regions best Crucian Carp fishing venues.

The silt curtain was anchored back in order to brace against the weight of silt

Silt, dredged from the centre of the pond, was placed behind the curtain

The invasive fish were removed from the water using large nets

If you would like to find out more about Aquascience Ltd services and projects, or to discuss your own project or development, please get in touch.

About us

Aquascience Ltd is an established company specialising in river, lake and wetland restoration, including the design, engineering and delivery of complex river projects, fishery management, water quality improvement and habitat restoration.

The company also operates its own aquatic nursery, supplying a range of native marginal plants of guaranteed provenance